Japan

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• Videos

Japan really impressed us and was one of the most amazing places we visited. Their traditional culture is so strong and at the same time the country is so modern that creates an exotic and interesting mix. The kimonos x the crazy and alternative styles, the skyscrapers x the temples and traditional houses, the Japanese super shy and polite x the extroverted cybernetic. Walking in the streets of every city is pure fun. Just sensational!

Expect to find the most polite and friendly people you’ve ever seen. Even though most do not speak a word of English they will always find a way to help you. Also expect a high quality food. It is the only country we have visited so far where anything you try is always good, even the cheap ready dishes from 7-eleven. You’ll be amazed with the amount of arcade games and pachinkos, with the magical cherry blossom (if you’re there in the first week of April) and with the cool toilets they have, experiencing all the buttons of the famous whashlets (to understand what is it watch the video on the link to “videos”). But of course all this comes at a price, and there is high. Japan is expensive indeed, but worth every penny. You won’t be disappointed.

What was worth it: The alternative neighborhoods of Tokyo, visiting the traditional events in Nikko and Furukawa, the small and charming old town of Takayama, Nara Park and its magnificent temple of Todaiji.
What we wanted to do but we didn’t: Watch a sumo fight or training and visit the famous Tsukijishijo fish market in Tokyo, spend a night in a capsule hotel, make the trek between the traditional cities of Tsumago and Magone (in Gifu Prefecture) and see Mount Fuji from close.

A few tips:

• CASHING MONEY: Most ATMs in Japan do not accept international cards. Only the ATMs from 7-Eleven stores or Citibank will work. But don’t worry, they are everywhere and you can easily find.
• TRANSPORT: The transport is super modern, comfortable and efficient. Traveling by train is certainly the most efficient way but also quite expensive. The famous Shinkansen bullet train go from Tokyo to Hiroshima in just four hours, but the ticket costs about 230 USD for one way. If you want to move around a lot by train the best option is to buy the Japan Rail Pass (see item below). There are also bus passes for short term trips.
• JAPAN RAIL PASS: The pass offers a good cost when compared to the cost of a single ticket. There are options of 7, 14 and 21 days. We did 14 days and paid around 500 USD per person. With the pass you can use the trains as much as you want and you don’t need to book in advance (there are always the wagons without reservation). It just doesn’t include Nozomi and Mizuho trains (which are Shinkansens with fewer stops), but it is OK for all other Shinkansens, local trains, loop lines within the cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima, and some JR buses and boats . But beware, this pass is only for people living outside of Japan and must be purchased abroad before you arrive in Japan. You can buy in agencies in your country or in the internet (JR pass). You will receive an exchange order, which must be replaced in Japan by the real pass up to 3 months, when you choose the starting date of the pass.
• DISPLACEMENT IN TOKYO: displacement in Tokyo can be expensive. There are daily metro passes, but that will cost about 10 USD per day per person and only worth it if you are sure you will take the subway more than 4 times. In addition, there are two different subway companies (Toei Line and Tokyo Metro Line) and the day pass that includes both of them is much more expensive, so it is best to buy the daily pass for one of them (Tokyo Metro Line is the most extensive), but you need to plan well where you go. If you find an accommodation near Shinjuku it’s a good location and you can walk around and use the subway for short trips only. If you have the JR pass you can also use in Tokyo, but only on the JR Loop line. It will take you on many points of interest but be prepared to spend more time on transportation as it is a longer way.
• AIRPORTS IN TOKYO: Many people don’t know but Tokyo has two international airports, Narita and Haneda. The most famous is Narita, but it is 2 hours from the center and the cost of the train is about 17 USD. Haneda airport is the most convenient, smaller and much closer to the center, in just half an hour and 5 USD you’re in Tokyo.

Our itinerary (18 days)

We flew from Kathmandu, in Nepal, to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, with a stopover in Hong Kong. We stayed 5 days there and did a day trip to Nikko when we activated our JR pass. After we left by Shinkansen to Nagoya, where we switched to a local train to the ancient city of Takayama and from there we also visited by train the small town of Furukawa. After two days we went by train to Kyoto, where we spent six days and from there we did day trips by train to Osaka and Nara. Then we went by shinkanzen to Hiroshima and 2 days after returned to Tokyo before leaving by plane to Hong Kong.

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